METTLESOME Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

mettlesome

adjective

ˈme-tᵊl-səm

Definition of mettlesome

as in energetic

having much high-spirited energy and movement the mettlesome opening dance number got the audience all jazzed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fiery

marked by a lively display of strong feeling a mettlesome debate on the teaching of evolution in the schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mettlesome He may have been provoked into battle by the ruler of Cebu, who was using Magellan’s troops to rid himself of a mettlesome chieftain known to raid the trade ships that navigated the waters in and around the islands. — Tim Carman, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mettlesome

Adjective

Munda, 19, has intermittently trained with the seniors over the past couple of seasons and the energetic midfielder is primed for a loan move in the new season.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 17 July 2026
In his view, our cognition, mood, and conscious experience reflect deeper energetic processes — down to the subcellular level.

— Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 July 2026

Definition of energetic

Adjective

Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco kicked off Thursday’s press conference with a strongly fiery rebuttal of the cut as well as a promise to challenge it in the courts.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 July 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators at a fiery hearing this week that the Pentagon is running short of cash, despite a massive $150 billion one-time allotment in last year's big budget bill.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of fiery

Adjective

Liam got started in Hollywood as a young actor and has voiced animated characters in films such as Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) and GOAT (2026).

— Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
The three episodes of this outstanding series that were made available cements the claim that some of the most creative animated storytelling is being generated from anime.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

Definition of animated

Adjective

Drinks—both spirited and alcohol-free—featuring ingredients like coconut milk, dairy or nut milks, fruit purées, and honey are especially froth-friendly.

— Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
The question of who actually lives in the district sparked some of the most spirited back and forth.

— Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Definition of spirited

Adjective

The three-deck sphere (hence, the name sphere class) at the heart of the ship is a lively social hub.

— Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
Stone-Robb pointed to its cliffs, ocean views, surf breaks, walkable streets, and a lively central market as the likely cause of its popularity, noting that home prices here run lower than in nearby Cascais despite a similar coastal appeal.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026

Definition of lively

Adjective

Zann eventually got a call from casting director Meredith Layne and a screenplay with lines that were instantly familiar from her time voicing Rogue, the spunky heroine whose touch can be deadly, in the ‘90s.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
The spunky comedy streaming service couldn’t hit the mainstream enough to attract voters, despite some very funny programming.

— William Earl, Variety, 8 July 2026

Definition of spunky

Adjective

To imagine the natural world not as a passive resource but as an animate collaborator would be to reorder more than aesthetic categories, demanding another relation to our environment.

— Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 29 May 2026
Zugunruhe is the itinerant desire of any animate being to keep moving and growing.

— Big Think, Big Think, 6 May 2026

Definition of animate

Adjective

That Beyoncé slot came off the back of a firm but passionate letter Nia wrote to protest the lack of a dance-music category at the UK’s MOBO awards.

— Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
This success contrasts sharply with the struggling Mets, despite both being NYC franchises with passionate fans.

— Robert Reiss, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of passionate

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mettlesome

mew

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“Mettlesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mettlesome. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of mettlesome

adjective

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